摘要 |
<p>An inlet apparatus (10) and method for use with a cabin air compressor on a high speed, airborne mobile platform (12), such as a commercial or military aircraft. The apparatus includes a Pitot inlet (16,102) of a desired shape that is supported outside an exterior surface (18) of a fuselage (14) of the aircraft by a diverter structure (20,108). The diverter structure (20,108) diverts a low energy portion of a boundary layer so that the low energy portion does not enter the Pitot inlet (16,102). The Pitot inlet (16,102) receives the higher energy portion of the boundary layer and channels a ram airflow to an inlet of a cabin air compressor. The apparatus provides a recovery factor (RF) of at least about 0.8 at a cabin air compressor (CAC) inlet face, which keeps the electric power required to drive the CAC within available power limits, while minimizing the drag of the inlet apparatus.</p> |